Sunday, April 11, 2010

4-10 Rethinking the human-animal relationship Collecting Animals

4-10 Rethinking the human-animal relationshipCollecting Animals

April 6, 2010 at 7:01 am by Patrick Battuello

“Providing care is a pretext. The animals give them a sense ofomnipotence, literally a power over life and death. This is not about caringfor the animals… it’s about a human need [filled] through the animals.”(Dr. Gary Patronek, leading expert on animal hoarding)

In my last post, I referred to Virginia Robinson as a hoarder. A cursoryreflection on that word implies benign or, at the very least, innocuousintentions. But like rampaging cancer cells that ravage a body, animal hoardingconsumes the hoarder and, more importantly, destroys the hoarded. In a word,stockpiling animals like so many Precious Moments figurines creates a malignancythat should command more attention than a dismissive shake of the head at the crazy cat lady.

Animal hoarding is a growing problem that, until recently, was not given duestudy into its causes and ramifications. The Hoarding of AnimalsResearch Consortium (HARC), based in Massachusetts, was an informalprofessional group active from 1997-2006. Each of the members drew on theirsubstantial experience in their respective fields (psychiatry, psychology,social work, veterinary medicine, and animal protection) to delve deep into acomplex social issue. They define AH thus:

More than the typical number of companion animals

Inability to provide even minimal standards of nutrition,sanitation, shelter, and veterinary care, …often resulting in starvation,illness, and death

Denial of the inability to provide this minimum care and theimpact of that failure on the animals, the household, and human occupants ofthe dwelling.

Although there is still much to learn, we do have a general feel for the typicalhoarder and the possible psychological causes. Most appear to be single,divorced, or widowed women (and many over the age of 60). 80% of cases from onestudy involved dead or sick animals, but only 40% would acknowledge a problem.An accumulation of feces and urine in the living areas was present in almost70%. Typically, the hoarder has become alienated from other people (family andvisitors are often shunned) and may compensate for severe loneliness ordepression by surrounding herself with dependent animals (although somemaintain normal appearances, including a job). The pets offer unconditionalacceptance and provide an opportunity for total control. Bonding with animalsis easier and safer than with other people (this may explain homes appearingmore like animal dens).

Addiction, OCD, dementia, and schizophrenia have been linked to hoarding.Some studies have indicated that traumatic childhood loss, abuse, or neglectleads to the compulsive behavior (often beginning with inanimate objects),fulfilling a desperate need for stability. A hoarder may defend her actions as beingin the best interests of the animals. Refuge in her house (which usually hasfallen into disrepair) must surely be preferable to freezing or starving on thestreets. Having forged an ostensibly symbiotic relationship, the hoarder isloath to forfeit any of her animals to an officer for possible euthanasia(ironically, dead animals are often left unattended in the house in an attemptto avoid grief or guilt). So, the hoarder collects. And does not see that heractions produce the very fate (and worse) she hoped to save the animals from.

Although animal hoarding is beginning to garner serious attention,detecting, disclosing, and coordinating a response remain challenging. Dr.Patronek (himself a veterinarian) explains that vets are often the first lineof defense. Armed with a knowledge of warning signs (perfume to conceal urineodor, changing roster of pets who are mostly seen only once), they can attemptto intervene. Neighbors, also, are obviously in a position to notifyauthorities. My sister and brother-in-law recently contacted animal controlabout their neighbor (at least the second time for her). The first officer tovisit (rebuffed in attempting to enter the house) counted 26 cats simply bylooking through the windows (there are cases involving hundreds). And family,often too patient in extending a relative the benefit of the doubt, shouldprioritize animal suffering over familial loyalty.

Brad Shear, director of the MHRHS, and another TU blogger,graciously offered his insight on hoarding. He says that all attempts are madeto work with the owner: convince him to voluntarily relinquish most of theanimals (which can place an enormous burden on shelters), sterilize whenapplicable, and ask him to adopt-out to other people. Often, this approachfails, and a search warrant must be obtained. Other relevant agencies may becontacted (social services, health and building departments), and prosecutionmay be pursued. Remember, in NYS, a felony charge is reserved for aggravatedanimal cruelty (Agriculture & Markets Animals 353-a):

So, a hoarder will usually face misdemeanor charges that typically entailthree years probation with periodic inspections. And then? Dr. Patronek says, “Thedrive to do this is so strong that recidivism is almost 100%.” Inother words, unless society stops them, they will almost certainly begin anew.From my perspective, animal hoarding is a sociological atrocity, and aconvicted hoarder should be allowed no more than one or two sterilized animalsfor the remainder of her days. She should be registered as an animal hoarder(like sex offenders) and subject to ongoing, unannounced inspections. The costto society is insignificant when weighed against unfathomable animal suffering.